Giorgio Napolitano

The red carpet was rolled out yesterday at one of Rome's more unusual archaeological sites, while a discreet police presence also surrounded the visit of the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano to Palazzo Valentini. President of the Province of Rome, Nicola Zingaretti, called it an historic day, as Palazzo Valentini prepared to open its doors to visitors to the Roman archaeological complex and multi-media museum beneath it – opening today for a limited time to the public.

Zingaretti said: “It is a unique place, where cultural heritage comes together with a structure in every-day use.” The occasion for Napolitano's visit was the opening of an area between the two Roman houses underneath Palazzo Valentini and the area of Trajan's Column.

Ancient artworks from Jordan – some of them never before seen outside Petra and Amman - are going on display today at Rome's Quirinal Palace. The star attraction at the exhibition is a statue found at the site of Ayn Ghazal near Amman dating from 7500 BC, one of the oldest surviving statues of its kind and size.

The exhibition has been organised by the President of the Italian Republic in honour of the state visit of the King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan. Sixty items will be on display in the 'Sale delle Bandiere' at the Palazzo del Quirinale and these will reflect the history of Jordan, from the Neolithic era to the end of the Ottoman empire.